Progesterone and fertility

Before taking any progesterone cream, you should know: not all progesterone is created equally. Only our bodies produce progesterone naturally, and the only other so-called ‘natural’ progesterone is derived, oddly enough, from wild yams, or from soya beans. Who knew?

But it is also noteworthy that we cannot just eat a wild yam and expect to ingest the progesterone; it has to be extracted from the yam in the lab.
These near-natural progesterones from wild yams and soya are known as bio-identicals, as they are the closest thing to what our bodies produce, and are therefore the best kind to take as a supplement.

We secrete progesterone in our female reproductive system, specifically in the ovaries, placenta and adrenal glands. Its main function is to regulate the inner lining of the uterus, preparing it for fertilized eggs, which are implanted in the uterus lining and then develop.

Progesterone is secreted by the ovaries until just a few days before the menstrual cycle begins, when the levels drop off, halting the growth of the uterine wall, at which stage it starts to break down, and menstruation begins.

If an egg is fertilized in the uterus, progesterone is essential in supporting the pregnancy and forming the placenta, which then takes over the production of progesterone from about week 12 of pregnancy.

Progesterone and oestrogen both play a role in the release of eggs in the ovaries.
In the fallopian tubes, progesterone is believed to stop the tubes from contracting once the egg has travelled through it.

During pregnancy, progesterone is responsible for the stimulation of glands in the breasts that release milk for breastfeeding.
Also during pregnancy, the levels of progesterone rise steadily until labour.

A drop in progesterone levels during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, which is why doctors prescribe it to some pregnant women.

Progesterone is also used in Hormone Replacement Therapy for women going through menopause.

The dosage may vary, depending on how low your levels are, but doctors recommend taking between 30mg and 40mg per day, or more if needed.
A ¼ teaspoon is about 20mg. So you could ideally apply a ¼ teaspoon in the morning and another ¼ teaspoon at night, to equal 40mg.
After the first month of pregnancy, the dosage can be gradually increased to about 60mg to 80mg per day. First consult with your doctor though.

You should only use Progesterone in the second half of your cycle, after ovulation. It is advised to use an ovulation kit, so that you can know for sure when you have ovulated. Usually, ovulation occurs 10 to 14 days after the menstrual cycle begins.
You should apply Progesterone cream from day 14 to day 26 of your cycle.

Make sure the progesterone cream is a bio-identical one – in other words, derived from wild yams or soya beans. These are closest to the body’s natural progesterone.